TY  - JOUR
AU  - Nasir, Siti Hana
AU  - Troynikov, Olga
AU  - Wong Lit Wan, Dawn
AU  - Zheng, Zhen
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/09/02
TI  - Assessing the Pressure and Thermal Discomfort Thresholds for Designing of Therapeutic Gloves: A Pilot Study
JO  - OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine
SP  - 053
VL  - 04
IS  - 03
AB  - Background: Pressure and thermal therapy glove are the two types of therapeutic gloves that are commonly used to relieve symptoms and improve hand function in patients with hand arthritis. However, no published clinical studies exist indicating the ideal pressure and thermal stimuli for the gloves. Understanding user thresholds towards pressure and thermal stimuli is crucial to improve therapeutic outcomes, wearer comfort, and adherence to therapy. The aim of this pilot study is twofold,  firstly to examine the pressure and thermal discomfort thresholds in different regions of the hand in individuals with hand osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). and secondly to determine whether the Cold-Heat pattern questionnaire could be used as a tool to categorise patients into groups that targeting the right treatment option to the right people.
Design: Thirteen women with hand OA or RA participated in this exploratory study. Pressure and thermal discomfort thresholds were assessed over the first distal interphalangeal joint, second distal interphalangeal joint, third proximal interphalangeal joint, third metacarpophalangeal joint and first carpometacarpal joint. 
Results: Significant variations were observed among participants in their pressure, cold and heat discomfort thresholds. Few participants also recorded significantly different levels of sensitivity towards pressure, cold and heat at different locations of the hand. Strong correlations were found between the duration of arthritis and pressure discomfort thresholds, as well as between the duration of arthritis and cold and/or heat discomfort thresholds; those with a longer duration of arthritis were significantly more sensitive towards pressure, cold and heat.  Based on Cold-Heat patern questionnaire, eight participants were classified as individuals who are sensitive to cold (cold pattern group) and five participants were classified as individuals who are sensitive to heat (heat pattern group). There was no statistically significant difference in the means of pressure, cold and heat discomfort thresholds between the cold pattern group and the heat pattern group. 
Conclusion: An ergonomic approach based on variations in distribution of human factors such as pressure and thermal sensitivity is recommended to be used in the design of therapeutic gloves.  The role of the Cold-Heat pattern questionnaire in assisting the design of therapeutic gloves for particular groups of wearers requires further investigation.
SN  - 2573-4393
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.1903053
DO  - 10.21926/obm.icm.1903053
ID  - Nasir2019
ER  -